Recuerdo

I was very sad, I was very solemn --
I had worked all day grinding out a column.
I came back from dinner at half-past seven,
And I couldn’t think of anything till quarter to eleven;
And then I read “Recuerdo,” by Miss Millay,
And I said, “I’ll bet a nickel I can write that way.”

I was very sad, I was very solemn --
I had worked all day whittling out a column.
I said, “I’ll bet a nickel I can chirp such a chant,”
And Mr. Geoffrey Parsons said, “I’ll bet you can’t.”
I bit a chunk of chocolate and found it sweet,
And I listened to the trucking on Frankfort Street.

I was very sad, I was very solemn --
I had worked all day fooling with a column.
I got as far as this and took my verses in
To Mr. Geoffrey Parsons, who said, “Kid, you win.”
And -- not that I imagine that any one’ll care --
I blew that jitney on a subway fare.